We all love our furry friends and consider our pets part of the family. As pet owners, we all know the importance of yard time. Getting outside is essential for exercise but most importantly, bathroom breaks! Many aren’t aware that pet urine can affect your lawn. If you’ve ever noticed spots of discoloration on the lawn, you may be seeing pet urine damage. While it’s common, and easily recovered, there are a few things you can do to minimize pet urine spots in your lawn.
Signs That Point to the Pup
Dog urine is naturally high in nitrogen, which can cause areas of bright green spots on the lawn. Eventually, these spots can turn brown, yellow, or have a burned appearance. In some cases, the area can have a circle of darker green grass around the edges. First, let’s rule out some other causes. Check that the discolored area is firmly rooted. If the turf lifts up or feels loose, you may have a damaging insect in your lawn. Also, check if you’re seeing these spots in areas of the lawn your dog may not have access to. If not, the culprit may be the pup.
While nitrogen is an important nutrient for healthy soils, high concentrations of nitrogen can cause damage and/or discoloration. There’s a common stigma that female dogs cause urine damage more frequently than male dogs. This is not due to the make-up of the dog’s urine, but due to the way female dogs urinate. Female dogs tend to urinate in one place, resulting in a higher concentration of urine; versus male dogs who tend to “lift and mark” various spots on the lawn. If you’re concerned about patches of discoloration in areas of your lawn, start paying attention to your pet’s bathroom pattern when they go outside.
How to Fix Pet Urine Damage in Your Lawn
Watering: Similar to the way you water in a fertilizer application, you should water the area your dog uses most. The best way to control pet urine damage on your lawn is to dilute the source of the problem. Due to the high concentration of nitrogen in pet urine, watering those spots promptly after your dog’s bathroom break can help minimize damage.
Training: Another thing you can do to minimize the damage is to train your dog to urinate in a specific area of the lawn. Try to encourage the dogs to go on the outskirts of the lawn or in areas that don’t have grass.
Supplements: There are some products on the market that claim to help neutralize the potency of your dog’s potty breaks. Talk to your veterinarian about what supplements your dog can take if this is becoming a problem. You can also increase your dog’s water intake to help dilute the urine.
While the damage may not be serious, pet urine can affect your lawn and the pH levels of your soil. If you’re looking for help in keeping your lawn healthy all year long, you can rely on the pros at All Turf Lawn Care in Atlanta, GA. We offer lawn care programs that include fertilization, weed control, lime, and much more to make sure your lawn has what it needs all throughout the year. Contact us today for a quote!
